What Is Aromatherapy?

What Is Aromatherapy?

The British Aromatherapy Council’s definition:

‘Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils in a holistic treatment to improve physical & emotional well being’.

I think it is much more than that it is using the strength of Mother Nature to enhance holistic treatments. The exciting thing is that there are solutions to many of our health ailments within nature & we are still discovering them.

The Limbic System – Our Reptilian Brain

This also known as the old brain or smell brain it is the centre of our brain & is responsible for our more primitive urges like hunger, thirst, sex drive, sleep pattern, emotions & intuition it is our reptilian brain base & we do not know much about it but we do know it is recording our likes & dislikes & making judgements for us through our experiences, scents & emotions & is recording memories & storing limitless information.

Do you ever smell a scent & it brings back a memory or evokes a strong reaction in you, well this is your limbic brain. A scent has unlocked an experience & brought this feeling up to the surface. It can surprise us & not be a reaction we expected.

Scent Notes

Just like a Perfumer the Aromatherapist blends together a synergy of scents that work to ensure they work they have to be a correct combination of scent notes.

The top note oil is what you smell first & works the fastest, the middle note gives body to the blend & the base note deepens the blend & holds it all together this emerges last & lingers the longest.

Bespoke Aromatherapy Treatments

An aromatherapy massage is a very personal bespoke treatment. I am taking in to account everything from our initial consultation & creating a taylor made blend of oils to help manage any specific ailments or conditions, even if it just for relaxation I would then select oils for you with sedative qualities. The aromatherapy enhances the treatment.

The Benefits of Aromatherapy

There are many different benefits with each essential oil they are endless.

Make sure you mention what symptoms you want help with managing.

Here are just a few examples:

-Rejuvenate, refresh, & wake up with stimulant oils like lemon, black pepper or rosemary these would work well with a Client that needs to stay awake for a night shift or taking part in a sporting event.

-Sequiterpenes are generally soothing with anti-allergy properties because they are anti-inflammatory, bactericidal & calming. Sequiterpenes are included in Chamomile oil & Rose oil.

So there is science behind an essential oils properties.

Safety With Aromatherapy To Avoid An Overdose

It is important you use a qualified Aromatherapist to give you an aromatherapy massage this is to ensure the correct ratios of quantities are used because an overdose can cause a toxic effect like nausea, dizziness, fatigue, hyperactivity, euphoric feelings, burns & skin irritations.

Please book In For a Treatment

Please book in for an aromatherapy massage call, email or text me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog:-)

About Gemma

Hello, My name is Gemma I am a qualified Massage Therapist, Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner and Indian Head Massage Therapist located in East Molesey, Surrey. I am fully insured and a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists.